A nor'easter announces itself over Elm Street around midnight — streetlights going soft, the city narrowing down to two lanes. Manchester Plowing LLC works that blue hour and every one after it, pushing driveways and lots, clearing walks and steps, laying sand and salt where meltwater will refreeze by dawn. The grid gives up its snow in banks, and knowing where to stack it so the next storm still has somewhere to go is half the trade. Pulling out at first light with a row of open driveways behind you and the sun coming up over the river is why the alarm gets set that early. They stay out until the last property is finished, then wait to see what the wind fills back in.